Acts 1.8 “But you
will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my
witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the
earth.” – Jesus
The disciples of Jesus were fairly predictable: they were
so hung up Jewish history, tradition, and culture that they had a hard time
letting it go. They had just witnessed the trial, crucifixion, death and
resurrection of the Lord and all they could ask Him was: “Lord, are you at this
time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Are we finally going to recapture the brass ring?)
So, like He always did when this subject came up, Jesus
patiently, but pointedly said: “It is not
for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.”
In other words, Guys, you’re still
not getting it! This is not about earthly kingdoms and power and authority –
this is about the Kingdom of God and what the Father desires to do in the world
through the lives of His people. It’s not about power, prestige, and position, rather, it’s about this: you will receive power when the Holy Spirit
comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
I’m marveled at the changes going on in our country
today. We have a new president and he seems to have an agenda of: all business.
Things are happening rapidly and he is making changes left and right. What is
telling, is the pushback from those who don’t agree with him. The media is
having a field day and there are many who just can’t believe what it is they’re
witnessing. Somebody is concerned about something…
For God’s people however, it’s not about political power,
position, prestige, or prominence – it’s about the Father’s design and desire
for this world: For God so loved the
world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life. To the Jews then, and to the Church now, the
message is still the same: it isn’t about politics; it’s about the Kingdom of
God.
The pull of politics is powerful but it is power that is
mostly wasted on temporary and temporal things. What good does it do to win an
election but lose your soul? What good does it do to do anything and find great
success on the world stage yet find God was nowhere near it? Jesus redirected
the conversation back to what He always did: This is about the Father’s business, not Israel’s glory. The glory of
Israel is the Messiah. Always has been, always will be.
The work for disciples of Jesus now, is to keep the main
thing the main thing. The pull of politics potentially impedes our mission: [Rather] you will receive power (true, effective,
and eternal) when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will (thereby) be (commissioned
to be wholly and solely about the business of being) my witnesses in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Let’s not let
politics muddy the waters of that!
Father in Heaven, it has never been about earthly thrones
or the glory of Israel or the United States or anyone else: it has always been
about saving men from wrath and their own devices. May I remember that truth today
as I am bombarded by the comings and goings of politics; and may I remember the
Gift You have given to those who believe: But
you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my
witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the
earth. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven!
Amen
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